Device for coupling cars with cables



(No Model.)

J. G. DOLAN.

DEVICE FOR COUPLING CARS WITH GABLES.

No. 298,673. Patented May 13, 1884.

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JOHN G. DOLAN, OF HOUTZDALE, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVICE FOR COUPLING CARS WITH CABLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 298,673 dated May 13, 1884.

Application filed July 27, 1883. (No model.)

To all whont it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN G. DOLAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Houtzdale, in the county of Olearfield, State of .Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Devices for Connecting Cars with Cables, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a front view of a device for connecting cars with cables embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, partly sectional. Fig. 3 is a top or plan view thereof.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre sponding parts in the several figures.

My invention consists of a device for readily connecting a car with a cable, rope, or chain of a traveler.

It also consists in rendering the device adjustable to car-bodies and draw-bars of different heights.

It also consists of means for preventing accidental disengagement of the cable or traveler from the connecting device.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a bar of suitable metal, sufficiently strong to endure the strain to which it is subjected, the same occupying an upright position at the end of a car, and having at top a hook, B, at bottom an open eye, 0, and near the bottom two eyes, D, the latter being so disposed that they receive between them the connecting hook or eye or draw-bar E of the car, (shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2,) and also -the coupling-pin E. The hook B engages with the top of the body of the car, at the end thereof, or crossbar thereon, and the eye 0 receives the cable or rope of a traveler, F, (also shown in dotted lines,) the stop or swivel G of which abuts against the wall of said eye, it being noticed that the latter is countersunk on opposite faces, so as to be engaged by the cable running in either direction.

It will be seen that when the bar is in position, as above described, the car is reliably propelled, and when the same is to be stopped the cable is lifted from the eye 0, or the bar removed from the car and disengaged from the cable, thus permitting the cable to conquired to disengage tinue its motion without imparting the same to the car.

In order to remove the bar from its position, the pin E is withdrawn and the bar raised, so that the hook B is disengaged from the top of the car-body, the bar thus being entirely disconnected from the car, its disconnection from the cable being readily accomplished, as is evident.

For the purpose of adjusting the bar to carbodies and draw-bars of different heights, the bar A is formed of two pieces, A A, which are fitted together so that they may slide on each other, and thereby lengthen or shorten the bar, thus raising or lowering either piece and adapting the hook B or the eyes D to be set relatively to the top edge of the car-body or the cross-piece thereon, or locality of the draw-bar E. When the parts are in adjusted position, they are retained by a pin, A, which is passed through openings formed in the connecting-boss A and the two pieces A A.

In order to prevent accidental disconnection of the cable from the eye 0, occasioned by the running of the car around curves, the swaying of the cable, or other causes, the lower end of the bar has fitted to it an upright latch or bolt, H, which closes the outer end of the opening of the eye, the same, however, being readily raised to uncover the eye when rethe cable and bar.

J represents a hook, eye, or clevis pivoted to the bar A opposite to the eyes D, for coupling adjacent cars, in which case said. bar is connected with the rear of the first car and operated by the cable in reverse order to that shown in the drawings.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device consisting of a bar with a hook for connection with the body of a car, aneye for engagement with a-traveling cable, and eyes for coupling with the draw-bar of the car, substantially as and for the purpose described.

'2. A bar, A, formed of two pieces adj ustably fitted together, one piece having a hook, and eye at bottom, and eyes the other having an near the bottom, substantially as and for the 4. The bar Withtop hook, eoupling-eyes,an(1

purpose described. cable-eye, in combination with a coupling-eye,

3. A bar with a hook at top, eyes near the J, substantially as set forth. bottom, and an open eye at the bottom, in I JOHN C. DOLAN. 5 combination with a bolt or latch for closing WVitnesses:

said open eye, substantially as and for the W. H. PATTERSON, purpose set forth. 7 J AMES MEEHAN. 

